《The Horrors of Astoria》


 Prologue

    Well this isn¡¯t going to go well.


    In my close vicinity was a blur, a grey and silver blur of a [Beowulf] streaking in between the bushes. It¡¯s behaviour was that of a hunter slowly cornering its prey; flitting in between the shrubbery waiting for me to lower my guard.


    You would thing I would be terrified; my pants soiled already. But all I could think about in this harrowing moment was back to when I was taking the request to hunt this beast back at Maystead Inn.


    ¡°It¡¯s an easy request.¡± they said, suppressing their snickering.


    ¡°Definitely within your capabilities they said.¡± they said, amidst a sea of jeering laughter.


    However, my thoughts were interrupted as [Beowulf] burst out of the undergrowth behind me, claws ready and bared to tear flesh. Detecting the subtle rustle greenery behind me, I swayed my head to avoid the blow - but it was too late.


    The sharp claws of the beast ran their destructive course along the side of my head, hair and flesh being torn apart; blood pouring down my face.


    ¡°Come here you little...¡± I muttered, swiping pathetically at thin air. The loss of blood was making me delirious.


    Sensing weakness, the [Beowulf] lunged for the kill, this time fangs bared and mouth agape for the kill. Gritting my teeth, I drew my ground and steadied myself for the inevitable - it was do or die. But as the speeding beast approached me, its eyes full of murderous, primative malice, everything disappeared into a void of black.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    2 days later...


    I awoke to a well-furnished room, a box of brown surrounded by various chairs, tables and lamps, not to mention the suprisingly soft bed which I lay upon. And then it hit me - the searing, burning pain in my head - like my skull was torn asunder.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve woken up...good.¡± A hooded, darkly-dressed figure emerged from their sitting position in the corner. Their attire was as if they were enveloped in the void , the cloak itself dyed black as the bleakest night; serving to hide the individual underneath.


    This stranger was the epitome of ¡®mysterious¡¯. As the hooded person approached, I could feel a steady uneasiness emerging from within me. ¡®It¡¯ extended an open palm.


    ¡±What¡¯s this? An extortion? Sorry, but I¡¯m fresh out of funds.¡± I replied tiredly. Better to be witty than reveal weakness.


    ¡°Hmm...I was planning on asking you to compensate me, since the [Beowulf] pelt I brought in didn¡¯t fetch as high a price as I had hoped.¡± The figure spoke nonchantly, with a sort of artificial voice. It was similar to a soap-gargled whore - I couldn¡¯t decipher it.


    ¡°Well since you don¡¯t need me, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±


    ¡°Not so fast. You still owe me, but what to do...¡± the figure pondered inquisitively, scratching their head as if was a ¡®mind-boggling¡¯ question. Finally, after a short eternity of internal questioning. ¡°I¡¯ve been hired to exterminate some ¡®anomalies¡¯ that have been occurring surrounding the Central Citadel as well as throughout Astoria.¡±


    ¡°What exactly is in it for me?¡± I tried to retort in a confident tone, despite not in a position to demand anything.


    ¡°Well first of all, you¡¯d pay off your debt to me and perhaps may recieve a hefty sum for your troubles. How¡¯s that sound?¡±


    Truly a tempting offer, suspiciously so. What could be their motive? A lure into slavery? A literal suicide mission? It couldn¡¯t possibly be a genuine offer from such a shifty looking person.


    ¡°So when do we start?¡±I stumbled forward clumsily - my body has betrayed me. All it took to fall was a stray foot from stranger for me to collapse forward and knock myself out.


    ¡°As soon as you¡¯re able to properly stand.¡± the figure whispered, as my consciousness faded to black.